It seems like everywhere I go these days, I get asked the same questions about stun guns. What are they? What do they do? Do they really work? (And assuming they really do work for self defense)… How do I know which stun gun is really going to work for me?
The truth is, there’s so much hype out there coming from gadget salesmen and wannabe self-defense experts, it’s no wonder people are confused as to what’s really going on.
I’m about to pour a small amount of my years of wisdom into this article, and hopefully give you a better understanding of what these personal stun devices are really all about.
I’m going to limit my topic to Personal hand-held stun devices, so if you want to hear about military electro-shock weapons, you’ll have to look elsewhere...
Anyone who’s ever held a stun gun can basically tell you what they are... They’re small devices that are used for subduing a person through electric shock.
Most stun guns have a body of hard non-conductive plastic so you won’t get zapped when you hold it…And stun guns are most commonly powered by a standard 9-volt battery, a lithium battery, or multiple batteries.
The small amount of voltage coming from these batteries goes through a number of circuits, which increases the voltage dramatically, sometimes to as much as 1,000,000 volts. Stun guns have two metal prods or electrodes that transfer the current to the target, and both electrodes must touch the subject for the weapon to be effective.
Next, what they do…
The recipient that’s touched with a stun gun feels some pain instantly (because you’re actually giving them an electrical shock). But more importantly, stun gun technology uses a temporary high-voltage current to override the body's muscle-triggering mechanisms.
To put that last sentence in simple-easy to understand language, consider this… In order for us to move our bodies, our brain sends electrical impulses back and forth to our muscles. One electrical impulse causes our muscles to contract, and the release of that electrical impulse causes our muscles to relax.
The voltage from a stun gun interrupts the electrical impulses that control voluntary muscle movement. This rapid work cycle causes your attackers muscles to contract and release very quickly, and their muscles start twitching uncontrollably.
The resulting muscle spasms overwhelm your attacker’s entire neuromuscular system by sending electrical impulses back to their brain, telling it to slow down a bit. When their brain receives too many return signals in a very short time (we're talking split seconds here) your attacker becomes confused and disoriented.
This rapid work cycle also depletes your attacker’s blood sugar making him unable to produce energy for his muscles, and his body is unable to function properly. A few more split seconds of contact and your attackers body and mind become completely exhausted, and they drop to the ground. It's not rocket science...its biology 101
These effects are temporary and non lethal... They usually last about 5 to 10 minutes, giving you plenty of time to get away.
And since stun guns work on high voltage, but very low amperage...The electricity dissipates instantly within your attackers muscles, so you will NOT receive a shock back even if your attacker is holding on to you.
Next, do they really work?
Yes, they really work.
There’s a lot of hype out there coming from people who say stun guns don’t really work. The truth is, nothing works 100% of the time. Even a handgun is only 99% effective, sometimes people get shot but they don’t go down. Does that mean handguns don’t really work? Of course not.
Stun guns are effective self defense tools, but knowing that nothing works 100% of the time means even if you have the most powerful stun gun in the world, you should still have a back up plan for defending yourself… just in case.
Some of the negative hype also comes from people who have bought cheap quality stun guns that have a weak or unreliable spark. Which brings me to my last point…
Which stun gun is right for you?
With dozens of different brands of stun guns on the market, and new ones showing up practically every other day, how do you know which stun gun you should buy?
A simple rule of thumb is to do some research first. (This is also good advice for anything else you plan to buy) A good place to start is with buying a stun gun from a reputable manufacturer with a proven track record. Two of the better brands I’ve found are Stunmaster and Streetwise. These are two of the top brands in today’s market, but there are a few other quality brands that you’ll find, if you really do your research.
Also, you definitely want to buy your stun gun from a retailer with a proven track record, one that will immediately replace your stun gun if you happen to get one that’s defective.
And since it’s hard to know if you’ll feel comfortable carrying your new stun gun, (until you actually have it in your hand), Ask the dealer what they’re exchange policy is, just in case you want to trade it in for a different one. (Bigger, smaller, more powerful, etc.) Because, if you don’t feel comfortable carrying your new stun gun, then you probably won’t carry it. And a stun gun won’t do you any good if you leave it in your sock drawer at home while you’re out walking around.
I could go on for another two or three pages about stun devices, but this article is already getting a bit lengthy, so I’ll end it here. Maybe I’ll write a follow up article about stun guns when I have a few minutes to sit back down at the keyboard. In the mean time, I hope I’ve given you a few basic truths about stun guns in a language that’s easy to understand.
Until next time…Stay safe, and stay alive,
Steve / NASP
SA Rubin is the owner of North American Security Products, LLC. A company dedicated to providing you with the means to protect and defend yourself against crime.
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